Smoke and Mirrors: Arming Against Rape
Many believe that rape is a crime usually committed by a stranger jumping out of a bush, or attacking from a car and overpowering their victim. In reality, in the general population, more than 80% of rapes are date or acquaintance rapes. Among college students, that number rises to 90%. Not only females are raped, males are too.
Date rape is defined as rape by the victim's social escort. It is known as a major crime against women in this country. The victims generally are between 15 and 25 years of age and know and trust the perpetrator.
The effects of date rape are long term and can leave the victim feeling as though her life is ripped apart. Not only is the survivor affected, significant others, friends and family members may be affected. Conviction rate is poor because only 5% of date rapes are ever reported.
Your College years should not have to be spent hiding away from everyone of the opposite sex for fear of rape and is not necessary. There are things you can do to reduce your risks.
1. No matter how nice a person seems, be wary of spending time alone with him/her until you get to know the individual better. Group dates are becoming the collegiate standard anyway. If you are going to study with a guy/girl, do so in places such as the library where others are around.
2. Remember that you can always say no, even if you have had sex with the guy before.
3. Four out of five rapists are unarmed. It’s a good idea to take self defense classes, but if you don’t know self defense techniques, you still can fight back.
Use you voice, scream as loud as you can. Practice yelling ahead of time so that if you are ever in danger you don’t freeze up. Such commands as “No!” “Go away!” or “Back off!” are excellent attention-getters if you feel threatened. Use your arms and legs. If your arms are held down kick between the perpetrators legs. If your legs are held down, use your hands.
4 Guys: for your own self defense, if a woman is drunk or “high,” do not get sexual with her. Neither “I was drunk” nor “she was drunk” is going to hold up as a defense in court. Remember, if a woman says no, she means no, not maybe, not yes, it is NO!
5. Women: for your own sake, learn about the effects of alcohol. Don’t try to drink like the guys. A 140 pound woman has less water in her body than the same weight man. For this reason, the blood alcohol level rises faster and takes longer to leave the woman’s body. If you’re small, you are even more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol. If you don’t want to drink, but want to look like you are, carrying around the same drink all night does work.
6. Spiked drinks do happen. After all, 90% of all rapes are planned. In this case, the rapist dissolves some tablets (rohypnol (roofies), GHB or Special K) in a drink and gives it to his victim. The drug takes affect within 20 to 30 minutes and causes the individual to become extremely dazed, pass out and have amnesia. The effects are intensified when the drug is mixed with alcohol. To protect yourself:
- Drink only out of containers you open yourself. Get a bottle opener on a keychain to open your drink and then hold onto your drink at all times.
- If you think you or a friend had your drink drugged, get somewhere safe and call the hospital immediately. You can be tested for it for the next 48 hours.
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